Physiological monitor gauge panel

ABSTRACT

A physiological monitor gauge panel defines parameters to display on a physiological monitor via corresponding gauges. Gauge faces depict a range of parameter values for each of the parameters. An indicator designates a position on each gauge face corresponding to the current parameter value within the range of parameter values. The indicated position on each of the gauges is at the mid-point of each of the gauge faces when each of the parameters is at a nominal value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/552,427, filed Oct. 27, 2011, titled Physiological Monitor Gauge Panel, the above-cited provisional application hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pulse oximetry is a widely accepted noninvasive procedure for measuring the oxygen saturation level of arterial blood, an indicator of a person's oxygen supply. A typical pulse oximetry system utilizes an optical sensor attached to a fingertip to measure the relative volume of oxygenated hemoglobin in pulsatile arterial blood flowing within the fingertip. Oxygen saturation (SpO₂), pulse rate and a plethysmograph waveform, which is a visualization of pulsatile blood flow over time, are displayed on a monitor accordingly.

Conventional pulse oximetry assumes that arterial blood is the only pulsatile blood flow in the measurement site. During patient motion, venous blood also moves, which causes errors in conventional pulse oximetry. Advanced pulse oximetry processes the venous blood signal so as to report true arterial oxygen saturation and pulse rate under conditions of patient movement. Advanced pulse oximetry also functions under conditions of low perfusion (small signal amplitude), intense ambient light (artificial or sunlight) and electrosurgical instrument interference, which are scenarios where conventional pulse oximetry tends to fail.

Advanced pulse oximetry is described in at least U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,770,028; 6,658,276; 6,157,850; 6,002,952; 5,769,785 and 5,758,644, which are assigned to Masimo Corporation (“Masimo”) of Irvine, Calif. and are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. Corresponding low noise optical sensors are disclosed in at least U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,985,764; 6,813,511; 6,792,300; 6,256,523; 6,088,607; 5,782,757 and 5,638,818, which are also assigned to Masimo and are also incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. Advanced pulse oximetry systems including Masimo SET® low noise optical sensors and read through motion pulse oximetry monitors for measuring SpO₂, pulse rate (PR) and perfusion index (PI) are available from Masimo. Optical sensors include any of Masimo LNOP®, LNCS®, SofTouch™ and BIue™ adhesive or reusable sensors. Pulse oximetry monitors include any of Masimo Rad-8®, Rad-5®, Rad®-5v or SatShare® monitors.

Advanced blood parameter measurement systems are described in at least U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,083, filed Mar. 1, 2006, titled Multiple Wavelength Sensor Equalization; U.S. Pat. No. 7,729,733, filed Mar. 1, 2006, titled Configurable Physiological Measurement System; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2006/0211925, filed Mar. 1, 2006, titled Physiological Parameter Confidence Measure and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2006/0238358, filed Mar. 1, 2006, titled Noninvasive Multi-Parameter Patient Monitor, all assigned to Cercacor Laboratories, Inc., Irvine, Calif. (Cercacor) and all incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. Advanced blood parameter measurement systems include Masimo Rainbow® SET, which provides measurements in addition to SpO₂, such as total hemoglobin (SpHb™), oxygen content (SpOC™), methemoglobin (SpMet®), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO®) and PVI®. Advanced blood parameter sensors include Masimo Rainbow® adhesive, ReSposable™ and reusable sensors. Advanced blood parameter monitors include Masimo Radical-7™, Rad87™ and Rad57™, Pronto-7® and Pronto® monitors, all available from Masimo. Such advanced pulse oximeters, low noise sensors and advanced blood parameter systems have gained rapid acceptance in a wide variety of medical applications, including surgical wards, intensive care and neonatal units, general wards, home care, physical training, and virtually all types of monitoring scenarios.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A physiological monitor gauge panel displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows medical care providers to quickly view and immediately and intuitively recognize and assess patient status across multiple parameters. The GUI comprises multiple gauges arranged in a panel. In an embodiment, a face of each gauge is configured as a circular portion. A needle of each gauge rotatably moves across the gauge face so as to indicate a parameter value. A gauge readout integrated with the gauge face also indicates a parameter value. An alarm region is disposed along at least one end of the face so as to indicate a lower alarm limit, an upper alarm limit or both lower and upper alarm limits. The alarm region becomes brightly illuminated when the needle is within the alarm region so as to alert a caregiver of an alarm condition.

In an embodiment, the physiological monitor gauge has a gauge face with generally semi-circular upper and lower edges defining downward-oriented ends and a mid-point between the ends defining an arced peak. Positions along the gauge face correspond to physiological parameter values. An indicator is disposed on the gauge face and is moveable along the gauge face according to a parameter value. The parameter value is displayed as at least one digit underneath the arced peak. The parameter type is specified under the parameter value.

One aspect of a physiological monitor gauge panel has a gauge face with generally semi-circular upper and lower edges. Each edge has downward-oriented ends and a mid-point defining an arced peak. Positions along the gauge face correspond to parameter values. An indicator is disposed on the gauge face and is moveable along the gauge face according to parameter values. At least one digit is displayed underneath the arced peak according to parameter values, and a parameter type is displayed under the at least one digit. In various embodiments, a generally arced color bar is disposed along the gauge face proximate at least one of the ends. The color bar defines an alarm region for parameter values. An arced histogram is disposed above the gauge face upper edge having bins, each of which generally represent parameter values corresponding to bin positions along the gauge face. Bin fills are depicted as relatively dark lines of various lengths coextending with particular ones of the bins. The bin fills each depict the amount of time the indicator persists at a given parameter value associated with a bin position.

Further aspect of a physiological monitor gauge panel are an alarm condition corresponding to the indicator positioned over the color bar. The gauge face changes from a generally neutral color to a red color during the alarm condition. Parameter value digits change from a black color to a white color during the alarm condition, and a background of the parameter value changes to a generally red color. A ghost face represents an unused quarter-circle region proximate one of the gauge face ends. A second generally arced color bar is located proximate the color bar and defines a cautionary region for parameter values. Gauge faces and corresponding indicators, parameter values and parameter types define a panel of parameter gauges. The indicators of each parameter gauge are generally centered at each of the arced peaks of the gauge faces so as to designate generally nominal values for the underlying physiological parameters. The panel displaying one or more significantly off-centered indicators signifies a potentially significant physiological event.

Another aspect of a physiological monitor gauge panel defines parameters to display on a physiological monitor via corresponding gauges. Gauge faces depict a range of parameter values for each of the parameters. An indicator designates a position on each gauge face corresponding to the current parameter value within the range of parameter values. The indicated position on each of the gauges is at the mid-point of each of the gauge faces when each of the parameters is at a nominal value. In various embodiments, gauge faces define a semi-circular range for each parameter. A low-range gauge has a left quarter-circle active face portion and a right quarter-circle inactive face portion. A high-range gauge has a right quarter-circle active face portion and a left quarter-circle inactive face portion. A high/low-range gauge has both a right quarter-circle active face portion and a left quarter-circle active face portion. A color bar designates an alarm region of parameter values. A second color bar designates a cautionary region of parameter values.

Yet another aspect of a physiological monitor gauge is a gauge face for depicting a range of values of a parameter on a physiological monitor. An indicator rotatably moves along the gauge face in response to the parameter so as to designate a current value for the parameter. The gauge face is configured so that the indicator is centered on the gauge face when the parameter current value is a nominal value. In various embodiments, the gauge face has a left-sided active face when the parameter has alarm limits for only low parameter values and a right-sided active face when the parameter has alarm limits for only high parameter values. The gauge face has both a left-sided active face and a right-sided active face when the parameter has alarm limits for both low parameter values and high parameter values. An active histogram is disposed proximate the active face for indicating the amount of time the indicator persists at a given parameter value. A virtual sliding knob sets the alarm limits along the gauge face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a physiological monitor gauge panel illustration presenting nominal values for each parameter and dual (red and yellow zone) alarm limits;

FIG. 2 is a physiological monitor gauge panel illustration presenting less than nominal values for each parameter;

FIG. 3 is a physiological monitor gauge panel illustration presenting an alarm condition for a particular parameter;

FIG. 4 is a parameter gauge illustration presenting an active histogram;

FIG. 5 is a parameter gauge illustration presenting an alarm limit editor;

FIG. 6 is a parameter gauge illustration presenting a 3-dimensional edge;

FIG. 7 is a parameter gauge illustration presenting a visible needle indicator;

FIG. 8 is a quarter-circle parameter gauge illustration; and

FIG. 9 is a parameter gauge illustration presenting single (red zone) alarm limits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a physiological monitor gauge panel 100 embodiment configured as a GUI (graphical user interface) presented on a monitor display. The gauge panel 100 is depicted as displaying nominal values for each parameter, as described below. Advantageously, a GUI gauge panel presentation of physiological parameters allows medical care providers to quickly view and immediately and intuitively recognize and assess patient status across multiple parameters. Indeed, a familiarity with reading of electrical/mechanical needle gauges is acquired over a lifetime exposure to speedometers, thermometers, tachometers and fuel-level indicators, to name a few.

An exemplar gauge panel configuration displays three half-circle gauges including a SpO₂ (oxygen saturation) gauge 101, a SpHb (total hemoglobin) gauge 102 and a SpMet (methemoglobin) gauge 103. Each gauge has a semi-circular face 110 and a parameter value indicator 120 that rotatably travels along each face 110. In particular, each indicator 120 is a visible tip terminating an apparent (unseen) needle that extends from, and rotatably pivots around, a gauge center. See, e.g., FIG. 7, below, illustrating visible needle. The indicator 120 position on the face 110 matches the value of a digital parameter readout 140 of the indicated parameter value. Advantageously, each gauge 101, 102, 103 is configured so that the indicator 120 is at the face mid-point, i.e. straight up as depicted, when the parameter is at a nominal value. In this manner, a caregiver will immediately recognize a patient having one or more abnormal readings and the degree of abnormality across multiple parameters.

As shown in FIG. 1, a low-range-alarm gauge 101 is configured for parameters having alarm limits for only low parameter values. A high-range-alarm gauge 103 is configured for parameters having alarm limits for only high parameter values. A high/low-range-alarm gauge 102 is configured for parameters having alarm limits for both low and high parameter values.

Also shown in FIG. 1, a low-range-alarm gauge 101 embodiment is configured with a left quarter-circle active face 112 depicting a possible range of parameter values. A right quarter-circle inactive face 114 is unused. In an embodiment, the inactive face is depicted as a ghost face, e.g. with a thin or light outline, as shown. In other embodiments, the inactive face is not shown, i.e. the gauge 101 has a quarter-circle face, as described with respect to FIG. 8, below. An alarm region is designated by a curved color bar 150 proximate a low-value range 112 of the face 110. A numerical indicator 152 indicates the maximum value of the alarm region. In an embodiment, the color bar 150 is red. In an embodiment, a second color bar 170 indicates a cautionary region. In an embodiment, the second color bar 170 is yellow.

Further shown in FIG. 1, a high-range-alarm gauge 103 embodiment is configured with a right quarter-circle active face 114 depicting a possible range of parameter values. A left quarter-circle inactive face 112 is unused. In an embodiment, the inactive face is depicted as a ghost face 190 as shown. In other embodiments, the inactive face is not shown. An alarm region is designated by a curved color bar 160 (e.g. red) proximate a high-value range 114 of the face 110. A numerical indicator 162 indicates the minimum value of the alarm region. In an embodiment, a second color bar 180 (e.g. yellow) indicates a cautionary region.

Additionally shown in FIG. 1, a low/high-range-alarm gauge 102 embodiment is configured with a semi-circle active face 112, 114 depicting a possible range of parameter values. A left quarter-circle active face 112 illustrates high range values and a right quarter-circle active face 114 illustrates low range values. Alarm regions are designated by a curved (red) color bars 150, 160 at the high and low parameter ranges, respectively. Numerical indicators 152,162 indicate the alarm onset regions. In an embodiment, a second (yellow) color bars 170, 180 indicates cautionary regions. In an embodiment, the parameter value indicator 120 is a brightly illuminated white.

FIG. 2 illustrates a physiological monitor gauge panel 200 presenting less than nominal values for each parameter. In particular, each gauge 101, 102, 103 has an indicator located away from a vertical (straight-up) position, as compared with the panel 100 (FIG. 1), described above. Advantageously, the off-vertical indicators 120 immediate signal a caregiver of one or more abnormal readings and the degree of abnormality across multiple parameters.

FIG. 3 illustrates a physiological monitor gauge panel 300 presenting an SpHb parameter gauge 101 that indicates an alarm condition. In particular, the gauge indicator 120 and readout 140 indicate SpHb has dropped below a listed limit of 7. In an embodiment, the alarm condition is advantageously indicated by the red color bar 150 changing to a brightest red illumination and also glowing red, the numerical value 140 changing to solid white, the color of the face 110 border changing to red and the readout background 145 changing to a bright red illumination and also having a red glow. Advantageously, these various visual cues allow a caregiver to quickly recognize the alarming parameter and the severity of the underlying physiological condition of the patient.

FIG. 4 illustrates a parameter gauge 400 presenting an active histogram 410. The histogram has bins 412 evenly distributed around the outer edge of the gauge face 110. The bins 412 are depicted as relatively light, radially extending lines, all of the same length. Bin fill 414 are depicted as relatively dark lines of various lengths coextending with particular ones of the bins 412. The histogram 410 advantageously depicts the amount of time the indicator 120 persists at a given parameter value corresponding to a bin position. The greater amount of time the indicator 120 persists at a given parameter value, the further the histogram fill corresponding to that bin extends from the inner edge to the outer edge of the histogram scale. In an embodiment, the histogram 410 extends the full travel range of the indicator 120.

FIG. 5 illustrates a parameter gauge 500 presenting an alarm limit editor. When a user touches an alarm limit number, e.g. 152 (FIG. 1), the alarm limit number and histogram (if enabled) fades out. These are replaced by a dual knob slider 501. The slider 501 has a decreasing value (relative to the center) left side 510 and an increasing value (relative to the center) right side 520. Accordingly, the slider 501 has a corresponding left side knob 512, left side label 514, right side knob 522 and right side label 524. A user can slide each knob 512, 522 with a finger along a slider carve 550. Each label 514, 524 will track with the corresponding knob 512, 522 position, and the value depicted on each label 514, 524 will update as the corresponding knob is moved. The color (red) alarm bars also track and move with the knobs 512, 522. The between-the-knobs carve portion 555 is also colored (black) so as to help identify the knob positions. Half gauges, such as 101 (FIG. 1) and 103 (FIG. 1) having a single (decreasing or increasing) range have a single knob and label accordingly.

FIGS. 6-9 each illustrate various other parameter gauge embodiments. FIG. 6 illustrates a parameter gauge 600 having a gauge face 110 with an apparent edge 610 so as to appear three-dimensional. FIG. 7 illustrates a parameter gauge 700 with an indicator 120 that sits atop a visible needle 125. The needle 125 and corresponding indicator 120 rotate about a gauge center 113. FIG. 8 illustrates a quarter-circle parameter gauge 800, i.e. a gauge without a ghost face 190 (FIG. 1) to indicate an inactive gauge portion. FIG. 9 illustrates a parameter gauge 900 having only red zone alarm regions 150, 160, i.e. without cautionary yellow zone regions 170, 180 (FIG. 1).

A physiological monitor gauge panel has been disclosed in detail in connection with various embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed by way of examples only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims that follow. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate many variations and modifications. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A noninvasive monitor configured to communicate with a sensor that includes an optical radiation source and one or more detectors housed in a sensor housing, the sensor housing configured to position the optical radiation source and the one or more detectors proximate tissue of a patient, the noninvasive monitor comprising: an input configured to receive, from the sensor, a signal that is responsive to detected light from the optical radiation source attenuated by the tissue; and one or more hardware processors configured to process the signal to determine measurement values for a physiological parameter of the patient; and a gauge panel configured to present a plurality of indicators responsive to the measurement values, the gauge panel comprising: a numerical indicator of the plurality of indicators comprising a numerical readout, the numerical readout being configured to equal one of the measurement values, a gauge face extending from a first side of the numerical readout to a second side of the numerical readout, a plurality of positions along the gauge face being mapped to different parameter values for the physiological parameter ranging from a low parameter value to a high parameter value, a gauge indicator of the plurality of indicators being overlaid on the gauge face, the gauge indicator being located at a position of the plurality of positions that maps to the one of the measurement values, and a graphical histogram indicator disposed along the gauge face and comprising a plurality of bars.
 22. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein a first bar of the plurality of bars corresponds to a first range of the parameter values and has a first height responsive to an amount of time that the gauge indicator indicated a first portion of the gauge indicator that maps to the first range, and a second bar of the plurality of bars corresponds to a second range of the parameter values different from the first range and has a second height responsive to an amount of time that the gauge indicator indicated a second portion of the gauge indicator different from the first portion that maps to the second range, the first bar being located proximate to the first portion and the second bar being located proximate to the second portion.
 23. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein in response to a user selection of an area covered by the graphical histogram indicator, the graphical histogram indicator is replaced on the gauge panel with a slider configured to receive a user input indicating an input value, the input value being between the low parameter value and the high parameter value.
 24. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein in response to a user selection of an area covered by the graphical histogram indicator, the graphical histogram indicator is replaced on the gauge panel with a slider configured to receive a plurality of user inputs indicating a first input value and a second input value, the first input value and the second input value being between the low parameter value and the high parameter value.
 25. The noninvasive monitor of claim 24, wherein the one or more hardware processors is configured to set a first alarm threshold to the first input value and a second alarm threshold to the second input value.
 26. The noninvasive monitor of claim 24, wherein the slider is a dual knob slider.
 27. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge panel is configured to toggle between a first configuration in which the graphical histogram indicator is displayed and a second configuration in which the graphical histogram indicator is not displayed.
 28. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein an alarm limit value is overlaid on the graphical histogram indicator, the alarm limit value identifying an alarm threshold for the measurement values.
 29. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein a plurality of alarm limit values are overlaid on the graphical histogram indicator, the plurality of alarm limit values identifying a plurality of alarm thresholds for the measurement values.
 30. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the graphical histogram indicator comprises a plurality of bins that have the same length, the plurality of bins having lighter coloring than the plurality of bars and being positioned behind the plurality of bars.
 31. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge face is formed as an arc that has a raised center.
 32. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge face is formed as a half circle.
 33. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge face comprises an alarm bar extending from an end of the gauge face, the alarm bar defining an alarm region for the measurement values.
 34. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the physiological parameter comprises total hemoglobin.
 35. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the physiological parameter comprises methemoglobin.
 36. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge panel comprises a parameter type indicator that indicates one of total hemoglobin, methemoglobin, and oxygen saturation.
 37. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein a degree to which the gauge indicator is displaced from a vertical position indicates a degree of abnormality of the one of the measurement values.
 38. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge face is disposed between the graphical histogram indicator and the numerical indicator.
 39. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein at least some of the plurality of positions along the gauge face are not mapped to the different parameter values for the physiological parameter, and the gauge indicator is configured to not be located at the at least some of the plurality of positions along the gauge face that are not mapped to the different parameter values for the physiological parameter.
 40. The noninvasive monitor of claim 21, wherein the gauge face comprises an edge that causes the gauge face to appear three dimensional. 